Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001842/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tomasz Froelich (ESN)
The action group ‘Ein Prozent’ (One Percent) has learned that ‘Campact’, a German campaign organisation made up of the association and foundation of the same name, donated more than EUR 232 000 to Alliance 90/The Greens, the SPD and the Brandenburg United Civic Movements/Free Voters in the context of the last state elections in Brandenburg, probably with a view to preventing the AfD from reaching a blocking minority[1].
For years, Campact has been receiving funds from foreign organisations that use financial means to influence society in Europe. In 2022, multi-billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations paid Campact EUR 268 837.87 for ‘democracy projects’. Under the German Political Parties Act, foreign organisations are not permitted to directly support German political parties. Campact and the aforementioned foreign organisations are circumventing this law.
The Commission has recommended a ban on donations to political parties from organisations from non-EU countries. What is more, Member States are recommended to effectively address circumvention as found in the case described above.
Does the Commission consider that the actions of Campact and the Open Society Foundations entail a breach of the German Political Parties Act and unlawful foreign political interference, in particular in light of its recommendation of 12 December 2023 (especially recitals 46 and 48 and point 28 thereof[2])?
Submitted: 26.9.2024